Hotel 50 Bowery NYC

Fresh off its grand opening in mid-2017, the 21-story Hotel 50 Bowery is the first hotel in New York City from the boutique hotel chain Joie De Vivre Hotel. Decor is industrial-chic, with concrete pillars, modern seating, and exposed brick accent walls as major design elements. In the lobby, a trendy collection of exposed-filament pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and tree stumps have been converted into coffee tables. Even hallways here are stylish, with oak wood accents and bright red doors -- traditionally a lucky color in the Chinese tradition, and a nod to the neighborhood where the hotel stands. From service to style, 50 Bowery manages to feel like a more intimate boutique hotel than its 229 guest rooms suggest. This spot attracts well-heeled couples and travelers alike, though pet- and kid-friendly amenities mean families will feel comfortable here, too.

Hotel 50 Bowery is situated in Lower Manhattan's Chinatown, around the corner from Canal Street and right next to the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge. It's not in the heart of tourist-heavy Midtown Manhattan, and for many that's a good thing. It's conveniently located within an easy walk to the lively Lower East Side, shopping-heavy SoHo, and to Little Italy. For those who don't mind a longer walk, it's roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot to the East Village, Tribeca, and to South Street Seaport. The Grand Street and Canal Street subway stations are within a six-minute walk of the hotel, providing fairly direct access to major Manhattan sights. The trip to Battery Park, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park will take about 20 minutes via subway, including the walk to the subway station. JFK Airport and LaGuardia Airport are about an hour via public transit.

Starting at 260 square feet for an entry-level room, digs here are roomy for Manhattan. They're stylishly modern, too, with simple lines and a mixture of natural and industrial details. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in lots of natural light, and oak wood floors and furnishings lend a homey feel. The Asian influence is subtle but unmistakable: rooms have elegant tea kettles and wallpapered accent walls behind beds that show off original art, like works from Chinese graffiti artist Dake Wong and black-and-white photos of old Chinatown. Bathrooms are equally attractive, with white subway tile walls, square sinks, luxury Lefroy Brooks fixtures, and rainfall showers, and some upgraded rooms add bathtubs.

All units have desks, Tempure-Pedic Serta mattresses, minibars, hand-held steamers (instead of irons), tea service (but no coffeemakers), 42-inch smart TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are outfitted with robes, hairdryers, shaving mirrors, and high-end Jonathan Adler individual toiletries. 

Entry-level rooms include the Deluxe King and Deluxe Double Rooms (260 square feet), the later of which can accommodate up to four guests. Upgraded Cityview rooms are the same, but they're situated on floors nine through 20 for better views of the city (some views are quite spectacular). The hotel also has five suites which add pull-out sofas, separate living areas, and other extras.

Eating and drinking is a highlight at 50 Bowery, which aims to please its social clientele. In the lobby, Rice & Gold serves breakfast for an additional charge, and the dinner menu has Asian-inspired dishes, including dim sum. Handcrafted cocktails and small bites are on offer at the 11-seat bar, and there's a rooftop bar and lounge on the 21st floor -- The Crown -- with sweeping views of downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. 

The hotel has a huge (5,000-square-foot) outdoor terrace (the "Atlantic Garden") on the second floor with seating — as well as meeting and event spaces, which include the communal Bowery Common. There's also gallery space that displays artifacts found during site development (fun fact: the hotel stands on the grounds of an 1860s beer hall), and a permanent exhibit from the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) offers history of the area. 

Compared to dining venues, the hotel gym feels a bit like an afterthought for such a large hotel, though it's open 24 hours and there are several pieces of modern cardio equipment with individual screens (including two elliptical and two treadmills) as well as weightlifting equipment and accessories like exercise balls, medicine balls, kettle bells, and dumbbells. However, there's no on-site spa or in-room services like massages. 

The hotel offers room and concierge service, plus laundry and dry cleaning service, and guests rave about the friendly, helpful staff. Parking is by valet and costs the sort of hefty extra fee travelers are familiar with coughing up in Manhattan. The hotel is pet-friendly (expect pet bowls and beds, with no extra charge for furry friends) and, for guests traveling with children, staff can provide playpens and cribs upon request. Wi-Fi is free throughout.